The traditional legend states that Kottarakkara Thampuran (also known as Vira Kerala Varma) requested the services of a Krishnanattam troupe, but his request was denied. Krishnanattam is dance-drama art form about the life and activities of Hindu god Krishna, that developed under the sponsorship of Sri Manavedan Raja, the ruler of Calicut (1585-1658 AD). Krishnanattam is the likely immediate precursor of Kathakalī, states Zarrilli. The designs of these theatres usually matched the dimensions and architecture recommended as "ideal" in the ancient Natya Shastra, and some of them could house 500 viewers. Kutiyattam, traditionally, was performed in theatres specially designed and attached to Hindu temples, particularly dedicated to the Shiva and later to Krishna. Kutiyattam, adds Richmond, is "one of the oldest continuously performed theatre forms in India, and it may well be the oldest surviving art form of the ancient world". Links to older performance arts: Kutiyattam and Krishnanattam Īccording to Farley Richmond and other scholars, Kathakali shares many elements such as costumes with ancient Indian performance arts such as Kutiyattam (classical Sanskrit drama) and medieval era Krishnanattam, even though a detailed examination shows differences. The roots of Kathakalī, states Mahinder Singh, are more ancient and some 1500 years old. Kathakalī emerged as a distinct genre of performance art during the 16th and 17th centuries in a coastal population of south India that spoke Malayalam (now Kerala). Jones and Ryan state it is more than 500 years old. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient Hindu text, are a form of expression of spiritual ideas, virtues and the essence of scriptures. The text, states Natalia Lidova, describes the theory of Tāṇḍava dance ( Shiva), the theory of rasa, of bhāva, expression, gestures, acting techniques, basic steps, standing postures – all of which are part of Indian classical dances including Kathakali.
![thodayam bharatanatyam song thodayam bharatanatyam song](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QnshRfbnnw8/maxresdefault.jpg)
The most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. The kathakali is attributed to sage Bharata, and its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. History Įlements and aspects of Kathakalī are taken from ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Natya Shastra. The dance symbolises the eternal fight between good and evil.
![thodayam bharatanatyam song thodayam bharatanatyam song](https://narthaki.com/info/rev18/images/rv2220b.jpg)
The term Kathakali is derived from Kathā ( Sanskrit: कथा) which means "story or a conversation, or a traditional tale", and kaḷi ( Malayalam: കളി) which means "performance" or "play". 2.1 Links to older performance arts: Kutiyattam and Krishnanattam.In modern compositions, Indian Kathakali troupes have included women artistes, and adapted Western stories and plays such as those by Shakespeare. The vocal performance has traditionally been performed in Sanskritised Malayalam.
![thodayam bharatanatyam song thodayam bharatanatyam song](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ibsr2-55fWo/maxresdefault.jpg)
The traditional themes of the Kathakalī are folk stories, religious legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu epics and the Puranas. Kathakalī also differs in that the structure and details of its art form developed in the courts and theatres of Hindu principalities, unlike other classical Indian dances which primarily developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools.
![thodayam bharatanatyam song thodayam bharatanatyam song](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DAdM174p2g4/maxresdefault.jpg)
However, Kathakali differs in that it also incorporates movements from ancient Indian martial arts and athletic traditions of South India. A Kathakali performance, like all classical dance arts of India, synthesizes music, vocal performers, choreography and hand and facial gestures together to express ideas. The fully developed style of Kathakalī originated around the 17th century, but its roots are in the temple and folk arts (such as Krishnanattam and religious drama of the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut) southwestern Indian peninsula), which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE. Hanuman in Kathakali (FACT Jayadeva Varma)